December 06 Kandili Article
“GOD BECAME MAN SO THAT MAN MIGHT BECOME GOD”
The above saying is one of the most famous sayings of the early Christian era. It is a quotation from St. Athanasios of the fourth century. It was stated in the First Ecumenical Council as a refutation to the priest from Alexandria, Arius, who claimed that Jesus Christ was not Divine, but rather created by God. The Arian Heresy was one of the most challenging of the early centuries in Christianity. St. Athanasios, St. Spyridon and St. Nicholas were amongst the most famous participants in the Council which affirmed the Apostolic teaching that Jesus Christ was indeed Divine and the second Person of the Holy Trinity, along with God, the Father and God, the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is One God in Three Persons—One in Three and Three in One. Furthermore, Jesus, the Son, is fully Divine AND fully human. A paraphrase of the saying might be, “God became man (by nature) so that man might become god.” (by Grace), in order to show that naturally, Jesus is God and man and that naturally, man is only human, and that any Godly aspect in our lives is by God’s Grace.
For eight weeknights this fall, we offered a class on the major heresies of the early Church. (For those interested, the sessions of the class were recorded and can be accessed through our website at www.stcatherinechurch.org. A printed table of the heresies with the Orthodox teachings is also available on line.) As we examined the intricacies and details of these errant teachings, most of which had to do with the Divine and human nature of Christ and the belief in the Triune God, we were often challenged ourselves to keep a proper perspective on our faith. At times the intellectual and philosophical debates served to take us in a direction away from relationship with God. We are however grateful to the Church Fathers and leaders who tackled these challenges early on thus affording us the opportunity to focus on our spiritual growth in relationship with God and others.
As we now have entered the Advent period, we are preparing for the celebration of the Nativity, the Incarnation or “taking on of flesh” of our Lord Jesus Christ—God becoming man. It is this act, this reality that distinguishes Christianity from the major religions of the world. God’s love is so incredible that the Divine humbles Himself to become man, not giving up His Divinity. Judaism does teach of God’s love and care. It is however primarily through the following of the Law that one achieves righteousness. Hinduism and Buddhism teach about men reaching nirvana, self-awareness and therefore righteousness. Islam teaches of the Great Prophet leading others to righteousness. Only Christianity teaches of God becoming man and then through God’s Grace bringing humans back to God. It is this reality above all else, that serves to communicate to us the great love for us of our God. God, who is completely above us—incomprehensible as the Divine One—becomes one of us, comprehensible as a human being. And not only that, He becomes one of us as the vulnerable, simple, loveable sweet Baby Jesus. Emmanuel—God is with us. As we hear in the refrain of the hymn of the Great Compline Service, “God is with us, give ear oh you nations and be humbled, for God is with us!” Even the secularization and commercialization of the “Holidays” cannot squelch the joy of the season. Because, you see, Jesus is the Reason for the Season. In a paradoxical manner, the intimacy of agape love towards us from God is enlivened within us as God allows us to love Him as the simple, loveable baby in swaddling clothes. The most hardened of hearts is melted in the presence of a newborn. So, He displays His love for us by allowing us to love Him in this simply profound manner.
It is by receiving this love that we have a desire to love God and then the Grace of God is alive within us. It is that Grace which then serves to allow us to grow in a God-like manner. This is the intimacy of God’s relationship with us and ours’ with God, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
As we continue in this Advent period, let’s receive His great and incredible love for us as we receive the sweet, baby Jesus and glorify our God, offering the best of our love to Him, who has become one of us. Through the power of His Grace, may we grow to be ever more like God as He has created us in His image to grow in His likeness.
“For unto us a child is born. Unto us, a son is given. And His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).God became man (by nature), so that man could become god (by Grace).
Have a beautiful and blessed celebration of our Lord’s Nativity, His Incarnation.
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Fr. Lou